Dear Friends,
Throughout this decade, as we approach the bi-centenary of the completion of the Regent's Canal, most of our energies have been diverted into protecting the canal against insensitive, aggressive development. Open spaces and heritage buildings have given way to steel and glass canyons and until recently the trend seemed irreversible.
However, mindsets are changing and three recent decisions have shown that the checks and balances are now working. This month, a government planning inspector scuppered One Housing's plan to intensify Bangor Wharf. In December the Islington planning committee rejected its officer's recommendation to intensify Regent's Wharf; and in October a High Court judge quashed the Hackney councillors' decision to approve Galliard Homes' demolition of Holborn Studios.
All three of these applications were controversial but they progressed to different levels in the system before being blocked. London's Blue Ribbon policies apply to all boroughs but it seems they are taken much more seriously in Camden than in Hackney.
See below for more details on these decisions. A big thank you to everyone who alerted us about these schemes and who took part in the campaigns.
There are some other plans in the pipeline that have attracted our interest: mooring changes at Limehouse, transformation of Camley Street Natural Park, Ted Baker redevelopment and a transformation of Canalside Studios in Orsman Road. Please follow the links below or let me know if you want to be involved with these.
REJECTION OF BANGOR WHARF APPEAL
Bangor-Wharf/planning-appeal-decision.html
REJECTION OF REGENT'S WHARF PLAN
Islington Tribune: a great result.
Islington Gazette: a stunning victory for common sense.
Islington Tribune: this gives us hope
HIGH COURT RULING ON HOLBORN STUDIOS
Eagle-Wharf/GHL/High-Court-ruling.html
NEW MOORING PLANS AT LIMEHOUSE
There is a plan to construct new pontoons to provide leisure moorings at Limehouse Basin. This could be good news for the lucky few but it will result in a net loss of informal moorings, deterring visitors from passing though London, and this could be the end of an era for adventurous boaters who make good use of this space on their approach to the titdal Thames.
CAMLEY STREET CLOSURE
There are good intentions to enhance the facilities but we need to pay attention to some of the misinformed artists' impressions.
CANALSIDE STUDIOS ORSMAN ROAD
New proposals have been drawn up and the architects would like to discuss these with us. Please contact me directly if you would like to help.
TED BAKER SITE
Ted-Baker-site/Plan-Dec-2017.html
Best wishes,
Ian Shacklock
Chair, Friends of Regent's Canal
25th January 2018